Cable TV
Manthan Broadband eyes customers in DAS phases I and II with lucrative deals
KOLKATA: The ongoing Cable TV Show 2014 in Kolkata became a platform for the Kolkata-headquartered cable TV multi-system operator (MSO) Manthan Broadband to make few lucrative deals to consumers. The show at the Netaji Indoor Stadium has witnessed an amazing response in the first two days and thus Manthan took an opportunity to woo the direct-to-home customers as it announced that any customer from the Digital Addressable System (DAS) phases I and II if switches to Manthan, he won’t have to pay anything for the set top boxes (STBs) and the installation charges.
However, few terms and conditions apply as the customers will have to opt for the ‘Super Sunday Pack’ at Rs 320 per month. “As a fair offer, we have informed to all our affiliated local cable operators (LCOs) that customers will just have to pay five months subscription fees and can enjoy the Manthan cable services for six months,” said Manthan Broadband Services director Sudip Ghosh also adding that the offer is mainly aimed at high-end customers. “With this offer, a customer can save around Rs 1500 as of now,” he said.
According to Ghosh, by the end of May, the MSO is aiming to poach around 50,000 connections. It is present in Kolkata, Howrah and Ranchi with around 7.5 lakh STBs in DAS I and II.
Interestingly, cable TV analysts think that the region is going to witness such offers from more players in the region despite of DTH penetration being low in the region. The DTH connections in the region has just crossed the 5 lakh mark.
“Last week Dish TV created a sub brand Zing to target regional markets and the STB offer was at a lower price. And now cable TV industry players like Manthan waging a war on DTH players. More such announcement by different players can be expected to poach others’ customers,” said an analyst.
Cable TV
Hathway Cable appoints Gurjeev Singh Kapoor as CEO
Leadership change comes as cable TV faces shrinking subscriber base and modest earnings pressure
MUMBAI: Hathway Cable and Datacom has tapped industry veteran Gurjeev Singh Kapoor as chief executive officer, marking a leadership pivot at a time when India’s cable television business is under mounting strain.
Kapoor will take over from Tavinderjit Singh Panesar, who is set to retire in August after a long innings with the company. Panesar, chief executive since 2023, has held multiple leadership roles at Hathway, including his latest stint beginning in 2022.
Kapoor brings more than three decades of experience in media and entertainment. He most recently led distribution at The Walt Disney Company’s Star India business, now part of JioStar. His career spans television distribution and affiliate partnerships, with stints at Sony Pictures Networks India, Discovery Communications and Zee Entertainment.
Panesar, with over three decades in the industry, has worked across strategic planning, distribution and business development in media, broadcasting and manufacturing. His past associations include ESPN Star Sports, Star India, Apollo Tyres and JK Industries.
The transition lands as the cable sector grapples with structural disruption. Traditional operators are losing ground to streaming platforms, while telecom and broadband players tighten the squeeze with bundled offerings.
An EY report estimates India’s pay-TV base could shrink by a further 30 to 40 million households by 2030, taking the total down to 71 to 81 million. The slide follows a loss of nearly 40 million homes between 2018 and 2024, a contraction that has already wiped out more than 37,000 jobs in the local cable operator ecosystem.
Hathway’s numbers reflect the strain. The company reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 93 crore for FY25, down from Rs 99 crore a year earlier. Revenue inched up to Rs 2,040 crore from Rs 1,981 crore. As of December 2025, it had about 4.7 million cable TV subscribers and roughly 1.02 million broadband users.
Kapoor steps in with a familiar brief but a shrinking playbook. In a market where viewers are cutting cords faster than companies can reinvent them, the new chief executive inherits a business fighting to stay plugged in.
